Antioch for one does relived
historic times. It was the most populous city and
cultural centre of the Roman Empire after Rome and
Alexandria, it kept this reputation during its Christian
period as well. This city, where the name
Christians was first mentioned, occupies an
important place in the thought and history of Syriac
Christianity. The Syrians established the school of
Antioch, which represented Aristotalian thinking in
contrast to the Platonian school of thought in
Alexandria. This way of thinking then influenced such
leading centres Syriac cultural places like Edessa
(Urfa), Harran, Nisibis and Gundeshapur as well as other
cultural places. In the Christological controversies of
the 5th century Aristotelian and Platonian thought
undoubtedly played a great role.

Antioch, with its
spiritual and cultural riches, has a different history in
every Syriac Christian heart. This place acccommodated
the patriarchate of the Syriac Church until 518. After
the 6th century though, the patriarchate was no longer in
this city. Nevertheless it continued to hold and still
holds the title of Antioch and all the East
until today.

These days Antioch
came to be the venue for celebrations on the occasion of
the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ. His
Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas and the
attendants of the synod visited Antioch on Saturday 1
April, 2000. On 2 April, His Holiness, having celebrated
Holy Mass in the church of St Peter, which was
established in 37 AD, said the following:
Christianity was spread from this city. Therefore,
Antioch is regarded as Gods city. It is the most
important city of Christianity after Jerusalem. It has
also a special place in the heart of every Syriac
Christian. Our ancestors made great efforts for Syriac
Christianity in Antioch. Many fell as martyrs as a
result. The reason we are here is to visit the relics of
those holy people.

During the two days
His Holiness stayed in Antioch, he gave a press
conference and paid several official visits to the
authorities accompanied by the Archbishop of Turabdin,
Timotheos, and the Archbishop of Istanbul, Filoxenus,
besides lay representatives of the communities in
Turabdin and Istanbul. Visits were paid to the governor
of Antioch, to the security chief of the province and to
the mayor of Antioch.

The Mass was
attended by 18 bishops, 14 monks and many other people
from Antioch, Turabdin, Mardin, Elazig, Istanbul and from
different countries in Europe and around the world. The
people of Antioch for two days enjoyed the Syriac Hymns
chanted by the whiterobed deacons in the streets of
Antioch.